As I go back and re-read these words of several years ago,
it becomes difficult to remember what it was like going through
the events documented here. Cancer is no longer the dominating
event of our lives; I retired in May, 2005 and now spend my time
doing what I wish. Candace still has a few years to go (unless
someone would share the winning lottery numbers with us!), the
oldest daughter, Robin, received her PhD a few years back, the
youngest, Sarah, graduated college and wed in2005. In 2006 she
presented us with Miss Kayla, we think she's the prettiest granddaughter
around.

The middle daughter, Virginia, is still working her way through
college and may actually graduate next Spring.

We've taken several wonderful trips (Niagara, Stratford, Ontario,
Ohio, Florida and out to Washington State) and anticipate more.
Life IS good!

Medically, I reached my goal of not having to be hospitalized
during an entire calendar year in 2003 and continued that record
until January of 2007. Had a knee replacement done a couple years
back, but I don't count that hospitalization because it was voluntary.
I've continued my visits with the surgeon as well as chest x-rays,
CT scans, barium swallows and the occasional endoscopy and they've
all come back as "unremarkable." Well.. I guess that
depends on whether one is the patient or the radiologist reading
the scans. They are pretty remarkable to Candace and me!

Our no hospitalization record ended one Saturday evening in
January this year. After dinner I had the feeling that comes
with having eaten too much. The usual routine for this is to
lay down for 20 minutes and the sensation passes. It didn't.
I started throwing up at 2 AM and felt better afterwards. Sunday
morning I was feeling pretty good thinking it was, possibly,
some tainted food or a stomach virus. It wasn't. Sunday night
was also spent in the bathroom and we heading to the emergency
room Monday morning where a CT showed a blockage in the small
intestine.

As told to us, a section of the small intestine was attached
to the abdominal wall during my cancer surgery and this was the
entry point for the J-tube. This attachment formed a small loop
in the intestine and, for some unknown reason, another part of
the intestine "jumped up and got caught" behind this
loop. Was rolled into surgery Monday afternoon and the attachment
point was cut loose allowing the intestine to settle back into
its normal position. It was not necessary to resect any of the
bowel. I spent the rest of the week waiting for my guts to kick
back into operation and left the hospital Friday.

Our other concern right now is a finding on the most recent
CT where a, "New tiny spiculated density in the right midlung
zone., felt to represent a small area of atelectasis. Since other
etiologies cannot be completely ruled out, close followup is
recommended to ensure stability."

The surgeon thinks it's nothing, but my PCP will have me back
in for another CT in September on the basis that it's "bad
luck" not to follow up. I'll update this after I get the
new CT results.